Log out of Messenger on your phone or computer in under a minute
To log out of Messenger, open the app or website, tap or click your profile picture in the top left or bottom right corner, scroll down to "Log Out," and confirm. On a computer, you can also use the keyboard shortcut Control+Alt+Delete (Windows) or Command+Option+Delete (Mac) while in the Messenger window, though the profile menu method works on every device. The process is the same whether you use Facebook Messenger as a standalone app or access it through Facebook.com.
Logging out removes your account from that device but does not delete your messages, photos, or any other data. The next time you open Messenger on that device, you will need to enter your login details again. If you share a device with other people, logging out prevents them from reading your conversations or sending messages as you.
Key Takeaways
- Tap your profile picture, scroll to "Log Out," and confirm — this works the same way on iPhone, Android, and desktop.
- Logging out removes your account from one device only; your messages and data stay on Facebook's servers and appear when you log back in.
- If you cannot find the Log Out button, check that you are looking at your own profile menu, not a conversation or group chat.
- On a shared device, logging out is the fastest way to stop someone else from accessing your account without changing your password.
Steps to log out on iPhone or Android
Open the Messenger app and look for your profile picture — usually a small circle or square in the top left corner on Android, or the bottom right on iPhone. Tap it once. A menu will appear with options like "Active Status," "Notifications," and "Privacy."
Scroll down to the bottom of this menu until you see "Log Out." Tap it, and Messenger will ask you to confirm. Tap "Log Out" again in the confirmation box. You will be returned to the login screen. The app remains on your phone, but your account is no longer signed in.
Steps to log out on a computer or web browser
Go to Messenger.com or open Messenger through Facebook.com. Look for your profile picture — it is usually in the top left corner or bottom left sidebar, depending on your screen size. Click it once.
A dropdown menu will appear. Scroll down until you see "Log Out" and click it. Your browser will redirect to the login page. If you use a shared computer, close the browser window completely after logging out to make sure no one can access your account by clicking the back button.
What happens to your messages when you log out
Your messages, photos, and conversation history remain on Facebook's servers. Logging out only removes your account from that specific device — it does not delete anything. When you log back in on any device, all your messages will be there exactly as you left them.
If you want to delete specific messages or entire conversations, you must do that before logging out. Once you are logged out, you cannot access Messenger to delete anything until you log back in.
Logging out versus staying logged in on shared devices
If you share a phone or computer with family members or roommates, logging out is the simplest way to keep your conversations private. Anyone with access to the device can read your messages if you stay logged in, and they can send messages as you without your knowledge.
Logging out is faster and safer than just closing the app or browser. Closing the app does not actually log you out — the next person who opens Messenger will still see your account and your message history. Logging out removes your account completely until someone enters your login details again.
If you cannot find the Log Out button
The most common reason people cannot find Log Out is that they are looking in the wrong menu. Make sure you are tapping or clicking your own profile picture, not a friend's profile or a group chat header. Your profile picture should be in a corner of the screen (top left on Android, bottom right on iPhone, top left on desktop), not in the middle of a conversation.
If you are in a conversation thread and tap a profile picture there, you will see that person's profile, not your account menu. Back out of that conversation and look for your profile picture in the app's main navigation area. If you still cannot locate it, try closing and reopening the app, or clearing your browser cache if you are using Messenger on a computer.
Logging out remotely from other devices
If you want to log out of Messenger on a device you do not have access to right now, you can do this through your Facebook account settings. Go to Facebook.com, click the down arrow in the top right corner, and select "Settings and Privacy," then "Settings." Click "Security and Login" on the left sidebar.
Under "Where You're Logged In," you will see a list of all devices currently signed into your Facebook account. Find the device you want to log out of and click "Log Out." This will immediately sign out your account on that device. Note that this logs you out of Facebook and Messenger together on that device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will logging out of Messenger also log me out of Facebook?
Not necessarily. Messenger and Facebook are separate apps, even though they share your account. You can log out of Messenger while staying logged into Facebook, or vice versa. However, if you log out through Facebook's Settings menu using the "Where You're Logged In" option, it logs you out of both at once.
Can someone else log into my Messenger account if I do not log out?
No, not without your password. Leaving yourself logged in means anyone with physical access to your device can read your messages and send messages as you, but they cannot log in as you on a different device. If you are worried about someone accessing your account from another device, change your password instead of just logging out.
Does logging out delete my chat history?
No. Your messages stay on Facebook's servers permanently until you manually delete them. Logging out only removes your account from that device. When you log back in, all your conversations will be there.
What if I forgot my password and cannot log back in?
Go to the Messenger login page and click "Forgot Password?" Enter your email address or phone number, and Facebook will send you a link to reset it. Follow the link in your email, create a new password, and log back in. This process works the same way on phones and computers.
Is it safe to stay logged into Messenger on a public computer?
No. Always log out of Messenger on any computer you do not own or that other people use. Public computers at libraries, schools, and internet cafes are especially risky because the next person can access your account, read your messages, and send messages as you. Log out before you leave, and clear your browser history if the computer allows it.